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MCGRIGORS ANNOUNCE ABERDEEN INVESTMENT PLANS

Law firm McGrigors has announced plans to double its presence in Aberdeen after closing a deal to move into new headquarters in the city.

The firm will quit its current base in Rose Street in the summer and move to Queens House, one of the West End’s most prestigious corporate locations.

McGrigors has taken a 15 year lease on the 16,000 sq ft development at 13 Queens Road, which incorporates a traditional Victorian villa linked to a three floor new build open plan office block.

The new HQ comprises more than double the available floor space at the current offices in Johnstone House and will give McGrigors the flexibility to grow its existing staff from 50 to 80 in the coming years.

McGrigors’ Head of Energy and board member, Bob Ruddiman, said the move is indicative of the firm's ambitions to extend its presence in the North East and follows a string of new hires and promotions in Aberdeen to meet growing client demand.

He said: “We have been searching for suitable premises for some time and this commitment marks an important milestone in our development plans in which we will significantly increase our presence here.

“The decision to take increased space is part of wider plans to invest in Aberdeen and create many new jobs in the city. Aberdeen is a critical hub for oil and gas clients and is rightly regarded as a global centre of energy excellence. Client demand has never been stronger and we need to make sure that we are in a position to continue to meet and exceed expectation for our services in the UK and the key export markets served by Aberdeen.”

McGrigors is the largest Scottish headquarters law firm by turnover and its Aberdeen team, comprising of energy, corporate, real estate and employment lawyers, is recognised as the Granite City’s top ranked legal firm in terms of completed transactional value.

In October the firm appointed a new partner and three new directors in Aberdeen and earlier this year McGrigors opened a new office in Qatar, which Ruddiman said will "act as a gateway for numerous oil and gas services businesses wishing to invest in the Middle East".

Queens House has been developed by Knight Property Group and was marketed by FG Burnett.

Knight Property Group was established in Aberdeen in 1987 and provides a complete range of property investment and development services. The company has extensive experience in the design and build of new facilities and the refurbishment and upgrading of existing properties.

James Barrack, chairman and managing director of Knight Property Group, said: “We are delighted to have been able to accommodate McGrigors, one of Scotland’s leading law firms, in what can only be described as one of the city’s most prestigious office developments.”